ICC gives Indians time on Sehwag
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A last-ditch attempt to save England's tour of India was launched last night when the International Cricket Council extended their deadline for a decision over the banned Indian batsman Virender Sehwag.
The ICC's president, Malcolm Gray, and its chief executive, Malcolm Speed, offered to fly out to Kuala Lumpur for a final summit with Jagmohan Dalmiya, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. They put back the original deadline, due to expire at 6.30 GMT today, to around noon tomorrow.
Last night the ICC confirmed that, despite its anxiety to rescue the series, the inclusion of Sehwag in the first Test which is due to begin in Mohali on Monday was "not an option". More likely was that a deal was being hatched to give the Indians a way to climb down gracefully with assurances on future regulations over match referees.
"We're making progress but still have some way to go," said Speed, who has brokered a series of three-way calls with Gray in Sydney and Dalmiya in Calcutta over the past 48 hours in search of a solution.
"It's a strange sort of negotiation. It's two steps forward and one step backwards, sometimes it's two steps forward, three steps backwards. Sometimes we end up further backwards than when we started. Given we're making progress it's worthwhile extending the deadline."
The controversy surrounds Sehwag's presence in the 14-man squad for the first Test. Earlier this month Sehwag was given a one-match ban after being disciplined by the match referee, Mike Denness, for excessive appealing during India's second Test against South Africa at Port Elizabeth.
The ICC maintains Sehwag has not served his ban as they ruled India's third Test against South Africa – in which the 23-year-old did not play – to be unofficial as both teams refused to accept Denness as referee.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments